CEO, Gray Construction

Thomas J. Stringer, Esq.

Tim Feemster

Managing Principal, Foremost Quality Logistics

Microsoft Building $500M Data Center in Iowa

Area Development News Desk

08/27/2008

Software giant Microsoft Corporation will invest $500 million to build a data center in West Des Moines, Iowa, according to the Iowa governor's office. The company plans to create 75 jobs with the project at an average annual salary of $70,000 plus benefits. Michael Manos, Microsoft's general manager of data center services, says the center will "drive significantly better energy efficiency than any center under construction today. Iowa, specifically West Des Moines, was the perfect location." The Des Moines Register reports that the company will receive a multimillion-dollar incentive package that includes $10 million in road improvements and $3 million in tax exemptions on equipment and energy costs. The company expects construction of the center to take at least 18 months.